New Choral Director Brings Multinational Experience

4/2/2014

Dr. Dong-Hyun Son of South Korea has been selected as Ottawa University’s new choir director. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the university from his previous jobs in music education in South Korea and the United States.

“After an extensive and rigorous national search for a new director of choral music at Ottawa University, our choral students, music faculty, administration, and members of the search committee selected Dr. Son as the top candidate," said Director of Music Programs Dr. Roger Kugler. "Dr. Son is not only a gifted musician and choral conductor, but he also brings an international pedagogical perspective that will enhance the musical growth of our choral music program for years to come.”

Son began his career in music as a church choir director for the Hakjangro Church and the Gooduck Church in Pusan, South Korea, from 1989 to 1998. During that time, he also became a freelance vocal teacher and added a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Pusan National University to his credentials.

Son then became the choir director for Pusan Moonhyun Church, founded and was the conductor for the Pusan Bada Chorus, became the music instructor for Yoo-Jin Music Academy, and continued to be a freelance vocal teacher. He later became a music teacher at Nam-Sung Elementary School and the choir director for Pusan National University. He received two certificates in choral conducting from two different universities, one in 2003 and the other in 2005.

In 2007, Son came to the United States to continue his education and his career in music. While working towards his master’s degree at Youngstown State University in Ohio, he acted as the university's assistant choir director and was the assistant opera chorus master for the Youngstown Opera Western Reserve. He also continued his work as a church choir director. After receiving his Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2009, Son spent time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received private conducting lessons from Dr. Robert Page, professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He also performed as a tenor in the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

Son arrived in northeast Kansas in 2010 to work as a choir director and graduate teaching assistant at the University of Kansas while pursuing his PhD. He also served as the director of music for Shawnee Heights United Methodist Church in Tecumseh. He received his Doctoral of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting in 2013.

Son is currently a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, the Kansas Choral Director’s Association, and the College Music Society.